Item 2A: Approval of City Council Minutes

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Mr. Zelenka said he did not support the existing resources option because it had impacts on other City services and meant the end of the revitalization loan program, and the general obligation bond and local option levy options asked people to pay more taxes in economically difficult times. He said that left the urban renewal program, which had no net increase in taxes or cuts to the General Fund, maintained the loan program and was the least expensive option for moving all four projects forward. He said the impact to School District 4J was modest and if the motion passed he would ask the City Manager to develop some creative strategies for keeping the school district whole. He liked the concept of a citizen review panel and could not support using the Facility Reserve because it was clear that the current City Hall building could no longer house City functions. Ms. Taylor commented that the Tualatin School District was rejecting urban renewal. Mr. Ruiz replied that the Tualatin School District had voted to support urban renewal. Mr. Clark reiterated that he felt urban renewal was the most intelligent and pragmatic approach to accomplishing the goals the community desired. He said the elected officials on the council would make the decision and then, if the issue was referred to the ballot, it was up to the general public to decide if they wanted those four projects to move forward downtown. He said putting the urban renewal plan amendment on the ballot and voting it down was killing the opportunity to make downtown more vibrant. He hoped the community would trust the council’s decision. Mr. Brown said he supported the projects, but not the financing option. He hoped the council would refer the plan amendment to the ballot and not require that to be done through a petition. Ms. Piercy said the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile were a reminder of the possibility of a seismic event in the Pacific Northwest and the need to be mindful of the safety and well-being of people in the community. She said the urban renewal option presented the opportunity for a winning result for everyone: the four priority projects could be funded and the urban renewal district would be terminated when they were completed. The main motion passed, 6:2; Mr. Brown and Ms. Taylor voting no. Mr. Zelenka, seconded by Mr. Poling, moved to request the City Manager to com- plete the analysis of the financial impact on Eugene School District 4J and should there be a financial impact, present to the council options for keeping 4J whole ei- ther through an exchange of services or financial assistance. Ms. Ortiz cautioned that school districts were allocated a certain amount of funding per student and in the case of the Bethel School District additional funds had to be returned to the State. Mr. Clark cautioned that the County was also in need of funds and the City could eliminate its proposed savings if it attempted to assist other taxing districts. The motion passed, 6:2; Mr. Brown and Ms. Taylor voting no. Ms. Solomon asked how a plan amendment would address the issue of the VA clinic if the federal government was not scheduled to make a decision until the end of the year. She was concerned about the MINUTES—Eugene City Council March 8, 2010 Page 5 Work Session